F.W.A. Brom

The Ethics of Rodent Control

Because western societies generally see animals as objects of moral concern, demands have been made on the way they are treated, e.g. during animal experimentation. In the case of rodent pests, however, inhumane control methods are often applied. This inconsistency in the human-animal relationship requires clarification. This paper analyses the criteria that must be met when judging the use of animals during experiments, and investigates whether these can be applied in rodent control. This is important, because, until now, animal welfare has been less of an issue in pest control: effectiveness, hygiene and cost efficiency have been leading principles. Two options are available to solve the inconsistency: the first is to abandon the criteria used in animal experimentation; the second is to apply these criteria to both animal experimentation and rodent control. This latter option implies that rodent control methods should not lead to intense pain or discomfort, and any discomfort should have a short duration and should allow escaped rodents to lead a natural life. Adherence to this option will, however, require a shift in the design of rodent control methods: effectiveness will no longer be the leading principle. It will have to share its position with animal welfare and humaneness.

Technology Assessment, Analytic and Democratic Practice

Technology assessment (TA) is an analytic and democratic practice that aims to contribute to the timely formation of public and political opinion on societal aspects of science and technology. The TA practice is constantly evolving. This article gives an overview of the current TA landscape by describing four TA modes of understanding and performing TA: classical TA, participatory TA, argumentative TA, and constructive TA. These descriptions are guided by three themes: TA as an analytic enterprise inspired by different scientific disciplines, the democratic function of TA, and the practice of TA. Finally, it describes some of the future challenges of TA.

Legislation on Ethical Issues : Towards an Interactive Paradigm

In this article, we sketch a new approach to law and ethics. The traditional paradigm, exemplified in the debate on liberal moralism, becomes increasingly inadequate. Its basic assumptions are that there are clear moral norms of positive or critical morality, and that making statutory norms is an effective method to have citizens conform to those norms. However, for many ethical issues that are on the legislative agenda, e.g. with respect to bioethics and anti-discrimination law, the moral norms are controversial, vague or still evolving. Moreover, law proves not to be a very effective instrument. Therefore, we need a new paradigm, both for descriptive and for normative analysis. This interactive paradigm, as a normative position, can be summarised in two theses. The process of legislation on ethical issues should be structured as a process of interaction between the legislature and society or relevant sectors of society, so that the development of new moral norms and the development of new legal norms may reinforce each other. And legislation on ethical issues should be designed in such a way that it is an effective form of communication which, moreover, facilitates an ongoing moral debate and an ongoing reflection on such issues, because this is the best method to ensure that the practice remains oriented to the ideals and values the law tries to realise.

Greedy information technology : The digitalization of the European migration policy

European borders are being transformed into digital borders. The ambition behind the European information systems ‐ like the Schengen Information System and Eurodac ‐ is to establish a single Union information system to control the flux of migrants. We show that in this process information technology is not a neutral tool to reach established goals but that it is ‘greedy’. This greediness indicates the distorting potential of information technology regarding the means-end logic. Our analysis suggests that the European migration policy is stuck in a ‘digital fix’, i.e. a technological fix focusing on ICT. We identify three political issues concerning greedy information technology within the context of the European migration policy. The first issue concerns the democratic control on information systems. The second issue discusses the weak legal position of immigrants. The third issue inquires into the effectiveness of information systems as a policy instrument.

Moral Convictions and Culling Animals: A Survey in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT In this paper the results are presented of a national survey in the Netherlands. The aim was to identify and describe the convictions about animals that people have in Dutch society and the role of these in judgments on the culling of healthy animals during an animal disease epidemic. A total of 1,999 responses was received and two groups of respondents were distinguished: A profile (50% of the respondents) and B profile (28%). The A profile respondents considered humans to be superior to animals, whereas the B profile respondents considered both to be equal. Both groups were of the opinion that animals have value, that people have a duty to care for and protect all animals, and that all animals have a right to life. These convictions were based on a number of values, such as animal life, the ability of animals to feel pain and emotions (sentience), and the importance of animal species in the ecosystem. The results of a case study suggest that convictions play a role in judgment. More A respondents agreed with the culling of healthy animals during an animal disease epidemic. More B respondents partly (dis)agreed or disagreed with this. Most respondents (A: 81%, B: 61%) agreed with culling to protect human life. The most important argument against culling was the value of animal life. The A respondents rated all arguments against culling significantly lower than did the B respondents.

The Good Life of Creatures with Dignity Some Comments on the Swiss Expert Opinion

The notion of Dignity of Creatures has been voted into the Swiss Federal Constitution by a plebiscite. Philipp Balzer, Klaus-Peter Rippe, and Peter Schaber have given an expert opinion for the Swiss government to clarify the notion of Dignity of Creatures. According to them, by voting this notion into the Swiss constitution, the Swiss have chosen for a limited biocentric approach towards biotechnology. In such an approach genetic engineering of non-human beings is only allowed insofar that their own good is not impaired. It is, however, not clear when the good of a non-human being is impaired. I defend the position that — even if we confine ourselves to animals — their good goes beyond their well being.

Governance strategies for responding to alarming studies on the safety of GM crops

Alarming studies about the safety of genetically modified organisms have been appearing since the first genetically modified (GM) crops were authorised for market release. The debates about these studies have a recurring pattern with similar players, arguments and strategies. More importantly, they are open-ended because those involved cannot agree on the significance and value of these studies or the consequences that should be attached to them. The roots of these disagreements lie deeper and connect to different views on science, society, nature and food production. Usually, governments respond in a procedural manner by referring the study to their scientific advisory bodies. Thus far, they conclude that there is no reason to revoke or postpone GM crops authorisations. However, the debate continues with undiminished vigour. The current response strategies to alarming studies seem to actually worsen the status quo in the GM debate because the underlying disagreements are not addressed. Starting from the ...

Reclaiming Control over Europe’s Technological Borders

Migration policy and border control in Europe and its member states increasingly take place in a surveillance regime that is focused on control. The surveillance regime consists of the intertwining of migration, integration and security policies on the one hand with a technological apparatus for the control of the movements of people on the other (Haggerty and Ericson 2000; Lyon 2009). Surveillance of citizens, migrants and illegal aliens is not only executed by the state but also by private companies and medical professionals working for the state. Next to that, the surveillance regime is not only regulated externally but travellers internalize security in voluntary behaviour. As a consequence, surveillance is not only exercised by control ‘from above’ (Big Brother) but also ‘from aside’ (Little Sister) and ‘from within’ (Voice Inside).

Proposal for a transatlantic platform for consumer concerns and international trade

Consumer concerns pop up. They are relatedto the safety of agrifood products for people, foranimals, and for the environment as well as the socialand ethical implications of certain agrifoodproduction methods. At first sight, the WTO agreementand the SPS and TBT agreements appear to offersufficient legal scope to deal with these concerns andresolve trade conflicts. The events of recent years,however, have shown the limitations of theseagreements in dealing with cultural differencesbetween nations and in dealing with the social andpolitical pressure on national governments to lay downrestrictive, trade distorting measures. It is vitalthat we consider the dynamic relationship betweennational governments, civil society, and the market.In the United States, Canada, and Europe, thisrealization is growing. We propose that these issuesshould be studied by experts in several disciplines:technical experts, hygiene experts and veterinarians,public administration experts, lawyers, philosophers,ethicists, sociologists, and, of course, economists.To unite these disciplines and provide a platform fordiscussion in the light of international tradeliberalisation, the cultural identity of distinctcommunities, and the functioning of the democraticnation state an international network is needed. Wetherefore propose establishing a network to explorethe issues and dynamics described above. The networkshould be international and interdisciplinary withparticipants, initially, from science and government.The purpose of the network would be to present newperspectives to the negotiating parties in the nextWTO round. The first steps to development of thisnetwork have since been taken and an initial group hasbeen established.

Emerging crossover technologies: How to organize a biotechnology that becomes mainstream?

Applications and techniques in biotechnology are rapidly integrating both inside and outside the life sciences. Techniques such as CRISPR-Cas are embraced as a one-size-fits-all tool in agricultural, environmental, medical and industrial biotechnology. Biotechnology merges with other technologies in amongst others synthetic biology, bionanotechnology and 3D bioprinting. These international developments are also confronted with both regulatory and societal challenges from the perspective of emerging risks, the socially contested status of genetically modified organisms and international regulatory differences. This brings forward the question how to organize innovation, safety and societal embedding of a scientifically normalizing—and therefore no longer separately visible—technology. This article highlights the overarching issues in biotechnology developments from a societal and regulatory perspective. Furthermore, recommendations are made on how to initiate responsible governance of a biotechnology that becomes mainstream.